The Toll of Tobacco in Kenya

Prepared by

Rodgers Lupia

Tobacco Effects

• Respiratory problems such as – increased coughing, phlegm, wheezing, chest colds and

shortness of breath.• Serious ailments such as– bronchitis, pneumonia, emphysema, strokes, heart

attacks, ulcers, ear infections, osteoporosis and impotence

• Asthma attacks or increased asthma symptoms.

• Dental problems such as yellow teeth, gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss.

Tobacco Effects

• Dulled sense of smell and taste.• Cold fingers and toes.• Zits –It takes longer for a smoker’s acne to heal.• Hair loss –even for some teens.• Low sperm count: • Premature wrinkling and related signs of

premature aging.• Infertility, sudden infant death syndrome and

low birth-weight babies.

Statistics and Trends

• On average, smokers lose 15 years of life.

• Researchers estimate;

– 50% of smokers who began smoking when they were young will die of a

smoking related illness.

• Lung Cancer

– Nine out of 10 people who get lung cancer die from the disease, usually

within two years of diagnosis.

• More people die from smoking than from AIDS, car accidents,

suicide, murder, fires and other drugs COMBINED.

Statistics and Trends

• In Kenya, – the current usage of tobacco products is 8.6% .It is largely

limited to males.

• Males– Data shows that 18% of the males are current users of

tobacco products.

• Females• < 2.1% of the current users of tobacco

products.

Executive summary

• Kenya is a tobacco-growing country that has been

involved in curbing the tobacco epidemic since 1992.

• A regional hub for manufacturing tobacco products

• 2001Established the National Tobacco Free Initiative Committee

(NTFIC) to coordinate tobacco control activities.

ASANTENI